DEP Replaces Sewer Outfall Signs in New York City

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today
announced that DEP has completed the replacement of all 410 signs marking the
combined sewer overflow outfalls in New York City. The updated design now
includes warnings about fishing, swimming, and boating near specific sewer
outfalls, which will assist the public in making informed decisions about
recreational opportunities when it rains. An outfall is an outlet along the
waterfront that connects sewers to open waters. During heavy storms, the sewer
system can reach capacity in certain parts of the City, and must discharge a mix of excess stormwater and wastewater — called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO — into the surrounding waterways. The new signs continue to advise the public to inform the city of any dry weather overflows by calling 311. The City’s sewer system has the capacity to handle the 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater that New Yorkers generate on average dry day; overflows during dry weather are usually caused by illegal dumping of prohibited materials into the sewer. Each of the new 410 signs has a unique identification number, making it easier for authorities to investigate quickly if a dry weather discharge is reported.

“Like many cities in the Northeast and Midwest, New York City is served by a
combined sewer system,” said Commissioner Holloway. “Though our system can
easily handle normal flow on a dry day, sometimes heavy rains trigger combined
sewer overflows which can impair our surrounding waterways. Reducing the
frequency and intensity of overflows has been a major priority for the Bloomberg
Administration. With $7 billion invested since 2002, and major new efforts like
the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan which will cut CSOs by 40% over the next 20
years, New York Harbor is cleaner than it’s been at any time in the last 100
years. But CSOs still occur, and residents and visitors who want to take
advantage of the City’s waterways should take common-sense precautions
near an outfall when it rains. These new signs are designed to help that
effort.”

DEP changed the design of the outfall signs at the suggestion Floatable
Citizens’ Advisory Committee which, as part of DEP’s Open Water CSO Long Term
Control Plan, recommended including more friendly information about the water
quality at these locations. The new design includes the approval of
Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYC Arts Commission, and the NYC
Parks Department, as well as community boards in the five boroughs. Producing
and replacing the signs cost approximately $1 million.

Images of the old (left) and new design for the outfall signs:

The structures that connect to public and private sewers that discharge into
the surrounding waters are known as combined sewer outfalls. Each outfall has a
sign of 24-by-36 inches and each sign faces the water and the land to give the
public the opportunity to read the information and report illegal discharges
right away. The signs also provide contact numbers so people can call to report
sewage releases during dry weather. The identification number can help a 311
operator or a DEP employee recognize the location from where someone is
reporting discharges and take immediate action. The outfall signs are part of
the New York State Discharge Notification Act that requires all permitted CSO
discharges to have signs identifying CSO outfalls.

In September, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan,
which will improve harbor water quality by capturing and retaining stormwater
runoff before it enters the sewer system. The plan, which includes $2.4 billion
in green infrastructure, will reduce sewer overflows by 40% by 2030. This
approach will also save $2.4 billion over the next 20 years because it will
reduce more costly investments in traditional sewage retention projects, like
tanks and tunnels. Green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and other
structural elements to absorb and evaporate water and to mimic natural areas and
hydrologic cycles. These types of projects are a key component of PlaNYC’s
sustainability effort because they also shade and cool the city, improve air
quality, and increase property values. These characteristics, the minimal energy
and manpower required for operation, and the relatively quick installation mean
that green infrastructure can be cost-effective and provide immediate benefits.
The Green Infrastructure Plan has been submitted for approval to the State
Department of Environmental Conservation in order for the plan to move forward.

DEP manages the city’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of
water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8 million in New York
City. New York City’s water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than
125 miles from the city, and comprises 19 reservoirs, and three controlled
lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring
water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,400 miles of
sewer lines take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. For more
information, visit www.nyc.gov/dep or
follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater.